Security locking device

ABSTRACT

IN A RECEPTACLE INCLUDING A SECURITY CONTROL DEVICE FOR PROTECTING VALUABLES IN CLOSURE MEANS WHICH IS ADAPTED TO BE MOVED BETWEEN OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE RECEPTACLE, THE SECURITY CONTROL DEVICE HAS A SPRING BIASED TRAVELER MOUNTED ON A TRACK ON THE RECEPTACLE WHICH TRAVELER PUSHES THE CLOSURE MEANS TOWARDS ITS CLOSED POSITION, AND LOCKING RATCHET AND COOPERATING PAWL ELEMENTS, ONE OF WHICH IS MOUNTED ON THE RECEPTACLE AND THE OTHER OF WHICH IS SECURED TO THE CLOSURE MEANS FOR MOVEMENT THEREWITH. THE RATCHET AND PAWL ELEMENTS ARE URGED INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH EACH OTHER TO HOLD THE CLOSURE MEANS AGAINST MOVEMENT TO ITS OPEN POSITION WITH RESPECT TO THE RECEPTACLE WHILE ALLOWING MOVEMENT OF THE CLOSURE MEANS TOWARDS ITS CLOSED POSTION WHEN RELEASED BY THE OPERATOR.

July 4, 1972 ca. I. RATNER 3,674,360

SECURITY LOCKING DEVICE Filed on. 29, 1970 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG./ 32

m ENTOR. //'@GE I. RATNER m A T T OR NE YS July 4, 1972 Filed Oct. 29,1970 6.1. RATNER 3,674,360

SECURITY LOCKING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVHVIOR. GEORGE l. RATNER damM ATTORNEYS United States Patent O1 hoe 3,674,360 Patented July 4, 1972US. Cl. 312-222 15 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In a receptacleincluding a security control device for protecting valuables in closuremeans which is adapted to be moved between open and closed positionswith respect to the receptacle, the security control device has a springbiased traveler mounted on a track on the receptacle which travelerpushes the closure means towards its closed position, and lockingratchet and cooperating pawl elements, one of which is mounted on thereceptacle and the other of which is secured to the closure means formovement therewith. The ratchet and pawl elements are urged intoengagement with each other to hold the closure means against movement toits open posit-ion with respect to the receptacle while allowingmovement of the closure means towards its closed position when releaseby the operator.

This invention relates to security control devices for receptacles, andmore particularly to a locking system for drawers, doors and the likewhich give or preclude access to cash or other valuable articles ordocuments within the receptacle.

It is well known that cash drawers do not fully protect against armedrobbers when there is a clerk or teller in charge of the drawer becausein the course of the holdup the clerk is usually subjected to fear forhis life; and, in general, banks andother business concerns warn theiremployees not to risk such holdups. It is necessary there fore, that thedrawer be closed and locked automatically to prevent admittance thereto.

Security control devices have been proposed in the past to protect cashdrawers and the like and provide means for closing the drawer andlatching it closed against bandits or unauthorized personnel who maywish to open the drawer for purposes of theft. Such devices have beenrelatively complicated and the closing and locking thereof generallyhave involved the necessity of complex electrical circuits or pressurefluid systems. Often these prior art devices are concerned with theprotection of bank tellers and the cash in their custody and so haveincluded complex additional systems to maintain the cash drawer in anopen position so as to avoid lost motion and repeatedly opening andclosing of the drawer for each normal transaction. The drawers in such asystem automatically close when the latching system holding the draweropen is released, as when the release mechanism is actuated by a pushbottom switch either electrically, hydraulically, or mechanically.However, for storage of greater amounts of money, and for use in drawerswhere repeated transactions do not take place, it is often dangerous toleave the drawers open or in a condition to be opened by unauthorizedpersons.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to automaticallyretract and lock a drawer in a receptacle.

It is another object of the invention to provide a mechanism by whichdrawers can be closed and locked by merely releasing the drawer.

It is a further objcet of the invention to prohibit Opening of a closuremember from any position to which the closure had previously beenretracted.

In accordance with an aspect of this invention, a security controldevice for a drawer in a receptacle includes a traveler mounted on atrack adjacent the drawer which traveler is preloaded so that it willengage the drawer and push it to a closed position. A spring biased pawlis mounted on the drawer and a locking ratchet element having the abruptlocking faces thereof faced in the direction of closing movement of thedrawer is mounted on the receptacle in position for engagement with thelatch, so that movement of the drawer to its open position is preventedby this engagement, whereas movement of the drawer to its closedposition under the influence of the traveler is permitted. Akey-operated release member is provided for releasing the pawl fromengagement with the ratchet element, so that the drawer may be openedwhen desired. A fail safe device is also provided to release the pawl inthe event of failure of the key mechanism to insure that the drawer maybe opened, thus avoiding the necessity of damaging the receptacle togain admission thereto.

Applicants invention is adapted for use in increasing the security ofexisting cash drawers or similar equipment in banks and mercantileestablishments and also replacing such equipment when it has failed orworn out. The receptacles and drawers generally have a long lifeexpectancy and are formed of relatively strong materials so that itoften occurs that the safety control elements therein fail or becomeobsolete: before the receptacles themselves. Accordingly, there is alarge demand for conversion of the existing equipment to supplement orincrease the security thereof. Applicants device is suitable forimproving the security of existing equipment as well as for convenientlybeing built into new equipment. The elements of applicants equipment areconveniently mounted within existing equipment receptacles and closuresto provide security therefore. The key for operating the releasemechanism would normally be held by the teller, but with the knowledgethat the drawer would be locked, requiring the use of the key to unlockeach time. However, the key could instead be retained by a bank ofiicer,offering dual control to the access of the valuables. If a bank officeralone retains the key, the drawer could not be opened by a teller underthreats of a bandit.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of this invention,will be apparent in the following detailed description of anillustrative embodiment of the invention which is to be read inconnection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view from beneath showing a securitycontrol device of the type in which the present invention may beemployed;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the pawl mechanism of the presentinvention mounted on the closure means;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the releasing mechanism for thepawl; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

Referring to the drawing in detail, and initially to FIG. 1 thereof, itwill be seen that a security control device 10 of a type in which thepresent invention may be employed generally comprises a preloadedtraveler mechanism 12 adapted to engage closure means 14 to urge theclosure means towards its closed position at the rear of the receptacle15, and a locking ratchet pawl mechanism 16 which holds closure means 14against movement to its open position from any position to which it hadpreviously been withdrawn. It is noted, that while closure means 14 isillustrated in the drawings as a drawer, it is contemplated that thepresent invention may be used in conjunction with other closure means,such as a door or means for closing other security receptacles.

Drawer 14 is slidably mounted in receptacle or cabinet 15 on rollers, orother antifriction devices as is customary in office equipment. and isprovided with a handle 20 on its front panel 22. An extension 24, formedof sheet metal or the like, is secured to the rear wall 26 of the drawer14 and is positioned for operative engagement with traveler 12 as morefully described hereinafter. Plate 28 is secured to top wall 30 ofreceptacle 14 and includes a downwardly extending dovetail track 32 onwhich traveler mechanism 12 is mounted. Traveler 12 includes block 34having a dovetail groove 36 therein which is complementary to track 32and which provides slidable mounting of traveler assembly 12 on thetrack 32. A pair of depending extensions 38 are mounted on oppositesides of block 34 and extend into the path of travel of drawer 14 andextension 24. In the ends of extensions 38, respectively are bolts 40which extend beyond traveler 12 to abut against drawer 14 or a partattached to it, e.g. extension 24 or preferably to engage in slots 112for positive interconnection.

Traveler 12 is biased towards the rear 42 of cabinet 15 by spring,mechanism 44. In this embodiment, mechanism 44 includes coil 46 of thinspring steel ribbon 48, e.g. a strip about .020 inch thick which issecured at its inner end to spool 50 and wound thereon by its owninherent coiling tendency. Brackets 52, secured to plate 28, providesupport for the arbor of spool 50. The opposite end 53 of spring 48,runs along the lower surface of track 32 and is secured, in anyconvenient manner, to traveler 12 and thus continuously urges traveler12 towards the rear of the receptacle. Accordingly, traveler 12 is heldin engagement with extension 24 of drawer 14, and under the influence ofspring 48, urges the drawer towards its closed position.

At its closed position and at any other position along the path oftravel, drawer 14 is locked against opening by ratchet and pawlmechanism 16. Plate 28 is provided with depending locking ratchet teeth56 formed along its lower edge. Teeth 56 have abrupt locking faces 58faced in the direction of closing movement of drawer 14, so thatengagement of pawl 60 on drawer 14 with locking surfaces 58 preventsoutward movement of drawer 14 against the bias of spring 48.

Pawl 60 and the mounting system therefor are more clearly illustrated inFIG. 2, wherein it is seen that the pawl 60 is mounted in channel member62. Member 62 is mounted on leg 64 of angle extension 24 through anintermediary connecting block 66 or the like. This block 66 defines aspace 68 between leg 70 of channel 62 and leg 64. Space 68 is adapted toreceive side 72 of drawer 14. In mounting channel 62 in this manner, aminimum amount of the space available within receptacle 15 is used. Forclarity, side 72 and traveler 12 are shown in FIG. 2 in dash-dotoutline.

Channel 62 is provided with cutout portions 74 in its legs 70, 75, whichcutouts are adapted to receive pawl 60 and guide the pawl for movementtherealong. Pawl 60 is urged towards its upper position by spring 76which is secured at one end 78 to bight portion 80 of channel 62 and atits other end 82 engages the cutout portion 84 of the pawl. Thus, it isseen that, as'traveler 12 pushes drawer 14 towards the rear of thereceptacle, pawl 60 I is depressed by the sloping faces 86 of teeth 56to permit release mechanism 90 is provided along side 72 of drawer 14.Release mechanism 90 includes lock mechanism 92 secured in front wall 22of drawer 14, which lock mechanism is adapted to rotate cam 94 in acounterclockwise direction, as seen in FIG. 3, when the proper key isinserted and turned therein. Lock 92 is, in the preferred embodiment,adapted for manual operation at the locus of the drawer by the teller orother authorized personnel. Preferably it is contemplated that only asingle authorized person retain control of the key and this person maybe someone other than the teller or any other person likely to beapproached by bandits. Thus, the drawer could not be under the tellerscontrol and could not be opened during a robbery.

Release mechanism includes control rod 96 rotatably mounted on side 72of drawer 14, which rod is adapted to be rotated in a clockwisedirection upon rotation of cam arm 94. Rod 96 includes lever arm 98which is spring biased by spring 100 in a counterclockwise direction.Arm 98 is held in a horizontal position in the closed position of thedrawer by engagement with pin 102 on arm 94. When arm 94 is rotated byactuation of lock 92, pin 102 is moved downwardly, as seen in FIG. 3,and urges arm 98 and thus rod 96 in a generally clockwise direction.Forward end 104 of rod 96 includes flat extension 106 which is seated inthe base of cutout 84 in pawl 60. This configuration is seen moreclearly in FIG. 4, wherein the latching position of pawl 60 is shown insolid lines and the release position thereof is shown in dash-dot lines.When rod 96 and thus extension 106 are rotated in a clockwise direction,edge 108 of extension 106 is urged against base 110 of cutout 84 andpushes pawl 60 downwardly against the action of spring 76. In thismanner pawl 60 is removed from engagement with the adjacent face 58 ofratchet 54 so that drawer 14 may be moved to its open position. Thedrawer is moved to this open position against the pull of spring 48which tends to bias it closed. When the drawer is released, for examplewhen the teller removes his hand from handle 20, the drawer is therebyautomatically returned to its closed position. When released, the keywill return to a vertical position and may even pop out of lock 92. Ineither case, pawl 60 engages teeth 56 (unless the key is manually heldin a rotated position) thereby ensuring that the drawer wouldimmediately lock upon closing. Moreover, it the drawer were grasped orcaught before it was fully closed, it would be held in the position ithad achieved by the engagement of pawl 60 and ratchet 52 so that itcould not be pulled open again.

The security control device of the present invention is convenientlyinstalled in existing drawers and cabinets, as the various componentsthereof, that is, plate 28 and angle 24 are conveniently bolted orwelded to the cabinet enclosure means and drawer respectively. Pawlmechanisms 16 and extension 24 may be conveniently assembled to drawer14 outside the cabinet while plate 28 and traveler mechanism 12 aresecured to the top portion of the cabinet. The drawer is then insertedwithin the cabinet with the traveler 12 at the front of track 32, sothat extension 24 may be moved below the traveler mechanism 12 and thenbe raised up behind into engagement therewith. While as previouslydescribed, bolts 40 may be in mere abutment with extension 24, it ispreferred that extensions 24 be provided with slots 112 therein throughwhich the bolts 40 may be extended to assure positive engagement of thetraveler with the drawer. Even if not affixed, the traveler 12 willnormally be kept butted in contact against the extension 24 by thespring 44. The stopping location of drawer 14 with proper engagement ofpawl 60 and teeth 56 is accomplished by careful installation of baseassembly 28 in the prescribed position. Bolts 40 may be made adjustableto ensure proper longitudinal positioning of traveler 12 relative to theextension 24, but normally this is not required. Bolts 40 engagement inslots 112 assures a correct interaction between pawl 60 and teeth 56.

Referring again to FIG. 1, a fail safe mechanism is provided on plate 28in order to insure that drawer 14 may be opened in the event that lock92 or any of the other components of release mechanism 90 should fail orthat the keys are lost. As seen therein, plate 28 is provided with adownwardly extending right angle guide track 122 which extendslongitudinally along plate 28 adjacent ratchet 54. Seated on thehorizontally extending leg 124 of track 122, is a generally L-shaped cammember 126, which may be stored either at the front or rear ends oftrack 122. Downwardly extending leg 128 of cam 126 has a pair ofangularly related cam surfaces 132 and 134 respectively, which areadapted to engage pawl 60 and depress the pawl to move it out ofengagement with teeth 56 of ratchet 54.

The operation of cam 126 is controlled by a rod 130 (FIG. 3) which isadapted to be inserted through a small aperture 135 in front wall 22of'drawer 14. The inner end 137 of rod 130 is adapted to be threadablyengaged in threaded hole 139 in forward end of leg 128 of cam 126.Accordingly, should the releasing mechanism 90 fail in some way, drawer14 may still be opened by inserting rod 130 through wall 22 intoengagement with cam 126 and pushing or pulling the cam along track 122until it engages and depresses pawl 160. Thereafter, the drawer may bemoved forward to its open position while pawl 60 is held in its lowerposition by cam 126.

'It is sometimes desirable to allow access to the front of the drawer,even if the drawer as a whole has been locked by our device. A stop 140is provided for this purpose. As shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1, stop140 may be a Phillips head screw engaged in a threaded hole 141 adjacent track 32. Thus, the screw when in position blocks track 32 andthus traveler 12 and limits the rearward movement of the drawer 14 underthe influence of spring 48. Accordingly, if drawer 14 is provided withfront and rear compartments, a bandit, or a clerk under threats of abandit can get a hand into the front compartment of drawer 1-4 and takeout money which it may contain. However, the rear compartment of thedrawer is inaccessible and the drawer is held in that position byengagement of pawl 60 with ratchet 56 so that it may not be openedfurther. This may also help in some holdups by permitting the bandit, orteller under stress, to take out Whatever funds are exposed in the frontof the drawer and thus satisfy the bandits demands for money. When thisis not desired, bolt 140 can be removed and traveler 12 in drawer 14 maythen move the full length of track 32 to the fully closed position ofthe drawer 14.

Although an illustrative embodiment of the present invention has beendescribed herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is tobe understood that the invention is not limited to that preciseembodiment, and that various changes and modifications may be effectedtherein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope orspirit of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A security control device for protecting valuables in a rectptaclehaving closure means adapted to be moved between opened and closedpositions, said device comprising locking ratchet and cooperating pawlelements, one of said elements being secured to said receptacle and theother of said elements being secured to said closure means for movmenttherewith, means for urging said elements into engagement with eachother to hold said closure means against movement to its open positionwith respect to said receptacle while allowing movement of said closuremeans towards its closed position with respect to said receptacle alonga predetermined path, said ratchet element having locking teeth with thelocking faces thereof faced in the direction of closing movement of saidclosure means whereby engagement of said pawl element with one of saidfaces holds said closure against movement in the opening direction, atrack mounted on said receptacle adjacent said closure means, a travelermounted for movement along said track for engagement with saidreceptacle, and drive means for urging said traveler into engagementwith said closure and to the limit of its travel in the closingdirection whereby said closure means is moved to its closed position.

lel relation adjacent one side of said drawer and said pawl beingmounted on said one side.

5. A security control device as defined in claim 4 wherein said meansfor urging said ratchet and pawl elements into engagement comprises aspring operatively engaged with said pawl and urging said pawl intocontact with said ratchet.

6. A security control device as defined in claim 5 wherein saidreleasing means comprises an elongated member rotatably mounted on saiddrawer, said elongated member being operably engaged at one end withsaid pawl,- and means for selectively rotating said elongated memberwhereby said pawl is moved against the action of said spring and out ofengagement with said ratchet.

7. A security control device as defined in claim 6 including anothermeans for releasing said pawl, independently of the first mentionedreleasing means.

8. A security device as defined in claim 7 wherein said other releasingmeans comprises cam means slidably mounted in said receptacle adjacentsaid ratchet and means for selectively engaging said cam means with saidpawl to move said pawl against the action of said spring and out ofengagement with said ratchet whereby said closure means is freed formovement to its open position.

9. A security device as defined in claim 6 wherein said drive meanscomprises a return spring.

10. A security control device for protecting valuables in a receptaclehaving closure means relatively moveable with respect to the receptacleand adapted to close the receptacle against theft of its contents or topermit opening for normal use, said device comprising a track mounted onsaid receptacle adjacent said closure means, a traveler mounted on saidtrack in a path obstructed by said closure means when it is between itsopen and closed positions, drive means for urging said traveler to thelimit of its travel in the closing direction, said traveler abuttingsaid closure means and pushing said closure means towards the closedposition, locking ratchet and cooperating pawl elements, one of saidelements being connected to said receptacle and the other of saidelements being operatively connected to said closure means for movementtherewith, and means for urging said elements into engagement with eachother to hold said closure means against movement to its open position.

11. A securing device for protecting valuables in a receptacle having adrawer adapted to be moved between opened and closed positions, saiddevice comprising locking ratchet and cooperating pawl elements, one ofsaid elements being secured to said receptacle and the other of saidelements being secured to said drawer for move ment therewith, means forurging said elements into engagement with each other to hold said draweragainst movement to its open position with respect to said receptaclewhile allowing movement of said drawer towards its closed position withrespect "to said receptacle, said ratchet element having locking teethwith the locking faces thereof faced in the direction of closingmovement of said closure means whereby engagement of said pawl elementwith one of said faces holds said closure against movement in theopening direction, and means for releasing engagement of said pawl andratchet to permit said drawer to be moved towards its opened position,said releasing means including an elongated member rotatably mounted onone of said receptacle or drawer and operatively engaged with said pawl,and means for selectively rotating said elongated member to move saidpawl against the action of said urging means out of engagement with saidratchet.

12. A security control device as defined in claim 11 wherein saidratchet is mounted on said receptacle and said pawl and releasing meansare mounted on said drawer.

13. A securing control device as defined in claim 12 wherein saidratchet is mounted on said receptacle in spaced parallel relationadjacent one side of said drawer and said pawl is mounted on said oneside.

14. A security control device as defined in claim 13 wherein said meansfor urging said ratchet and pawl elements into engagement comprises aspring operatively engaged with said pawl and urging said pawl intocontact with said ratchet.

15. A security device as defined in claim 13 including means forreleasing said pawl independently of the first mentioned releasing meansand comprising cam means slidably mounted in said receptacle adjacentsaid ratchet and means for selectively engaging said cam means with saidpawl to move said pawl against the action of said urging means and outof engagement with said ratchet whereby said closure means is freed formovement to its open position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Erismann 312-219 J AMES T.MCCALL, Primary Examiner US. 01. X.R,

